6. Erin
Chapter six
Erin
We made our way back to our vehicles. Seth and Derik discussed a game plan for the following day as we walked. I zoned them out, thinking back to Libby and her ability, then Seth’s and Josh's. I wondered what I’d be able to do when the time came. I felt so useless. Okay, not that we’d done much at that point beyond playing a quick game of supernatural CSI, but still.
I did nothing.
“You’re gonna kill your last brain cell if you keep thinking that hard, Rin,” Derik said as he slowed his pace and fell to the back of our little group next to me, lightly shoving my shoulder.
“Still more brain cells than you,” I retorted, shoving him back.
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” he laughed. “What were you and Mister Dark and Mysterious nagging each other about earlier? It looked like he got you a little riled there, girlie.”
“First of all, do not call me that. I’m not twelve. Second, nothing important. He was just getting on my nerves. You two seem to have that in common.”
Derik busted out laughing. “Ha! I have something in common with Grey Impersonate over there. That’s fucking hilarious!” Derik smacked me hard on the back, knocking the wind from my lungs.
“You’re an ass, dude.” I coughed.
He shrugged. “Makes sense since I get plenty of it.”
I scrunched my nose. “Gross.”
“That’s not any way to speak in front of a lady, Derik.”
Speak of the damned devil.
I internally groaned while assface plastered a dubious grin on his face.
“My bad. Didn’t mean to offend ya, Erin.” Derik held his hands up in a feign apology, sporting a toothy grin.
“Yeah, right,” I scoffed and turned to Josh. “I appreciate you doing this whole courteous crap but there’s no need. I know Derik is an ass.” I shot Derik an irritated look.
“My, my. Quite a mouth you have there, Miss Snow.” Derik practically choked on air, while I gaped at Josh. He flashed one hell of a smile. His teeth gleamed in the early evening sun, a dimple appearing on his right cheek.
“What are you? The damned language police? This is the twenty-first century. You realize that, right?” I deadpanned, crossing my arms over my chest.
Derik wiped a tear as it fell from his eye from laughing so hard.
Bastard.
I glared at Derik, my face hot from the not-so-subtle innuendo.
He choked back another bout of laughter. “Alright, alright, Snow, you ready to head out?” I narrowed my eyes at Josh and turned on my heel, reaching for the passenger door of Derik’s Silverado.
Where does this guy get off? I can damn well talk however I please.
I yanked it open and hopped inside, slamming the door behind me. Derik swaggered toward the driver’s side, Josh right on his heel.
“Would you mind if I rode with you all?”
No. Please no.
The most mischievous glint shined in Derik’s slate-blue eyes. “After that? Hell yeah. I’d love a frontrow seat to see Erin squirm.”
Asshole.
“You’re disgusting.”
“It’s what I do best, baby.” He shrugged and hauled his ass into the driver's seat, leaving me to squeeze in the center between him and Josh. The last place I wanted to be at that moment.
For how massive this behemoth of a truck is, you’d think he’d have extended cab seating.
I was hyper-aware of Josh’s body next to mine. It was a tight fit in Derik’s truck, with it only being a front seater. My shoulders were, unfortunately, firmly pressed against Josh’s, okay and Derik’s too, but let’s be honest, I didn’t pay much attention to Derik’s burly shoulder. I caught a whiff of Josh’s scent as he slung his arm over the back of the seat.
Cedar and…musk?
I breathed it in, relished it, and images danced in front of me.
His stubble sent tingles down my stomach as he grazed my neck, gently caressing the spot between my shoulders with his lips. He flicked his tongue, causing me to shiver, a slight pool forming at my center. A moan escaped my lips that snapped me out of my little fantasy.
Derik cleared his throat. “Uh, Erin, you good? You spaced out there for a sec.” I shot straight up in my seat, my face beet-red. I slapped my hands down on my lap, facing forward.
Nervous laughter bubbled in my chest. “Yeap. Peachy. Must’ve dosed off. You know, with lack of sleep and everything lately.”
Breathe. I'm just imagining things. I just met the guy today. There's no reason to get all hot and heavy just because he smells delicious. This isn’t some romance novel.
“Oh yeah, Seth did mention something about you not sleeping. Said you’ve been having those dream run-ins with the Angels. Sounds like a fun time.”
I sighed, nodding my head; grateful Derik didn’t push it and make a spectacle of my spacing out.
So that must be what that guy was in the second nightmare.
But what about the first one?
A blanket of darkness surrounded me and it was as if I couldn’t escape. No one was in that one, at least not that I could see even though I felt hundreds of eyes on me. There was nothing but the fear of being chased and not being able to escape that encompassed my whole being.
“Have you had any others? Since the one after class?”
“No, there haven’t been any more. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it stays that way. If I’m going to be a part of this whole ‘hunt the Demons’ thing, I’m going to need as much rest as I can get. I get crabby.”
“I can’t imagine you crabby, Miss Snow,” Josh said, his voice laced with a hint of playfulness, his dimple prominent.
Derik snorted. “You have no freaking idea, man. This chick can send wild animals running when she’s in a mood. Should’ve seen when we met. She looked like she wanted to kill my ass.”
“You were being an absolute ass and it was during finals my freshman year. Within five minutes of meeting me, you hit on me, gave me the up-down, and immediately moved to hit on the other chick that showed up with Seth’s girlfriend at the time. Not to mention you were shit-faced. You were being a pig, a drunken pig. Of course I was pissy.”
He shrugged. “Eh, it’s alright. The other chick was hotter anyway,” I slapped him on the shoulder. He tried dodging and failed, being behind the wheel and crammed together on the seat. “What! It’s not like you were interested in me anyway, Snow. You only tagged along because Seth dragged you out.”
He wasn’t wrong. I was in the trenches of studying and preparing for finals with absolutely no interest in leaving my apartment. I had been holed up in my living room for days when Seth dropped in—without warning—and gave me ten minutes to throw on something besides sweats or he threatened to do it himself. In hindsight, he wouldn’t have actually stripped me down but I was so fried from my textbooks, that the threat was enough. I hated finals. We both did. They always stressed me out so much to the point where my ability to eat or even sleep became non-existent.
Finals. Shit.
I slapped my hand on my forehead, startling Derik and Josh. I glimpsed the confused looks on their faces through the rearview mirror in front of me. “I totally forgot we have finals coming up again. I need to get back and cram some work in. Ugh!”
I could picture Jensin’s willowy figure barking at me, his frustration visible in the smallest crevice between the wrinkles of his skin. I shivered. He was an excellent professor and extremely knowledgeable. However, he was terrifying if you fell on his bad side.
“Well, good thing we’re here,” Derik said, parking his truck in front of Seth’s place. I chastised myself for forgetting as I slid out of Derik’s truck.
I need to figure this out.
Just because I was thrust into this whole immortal world, didn’t mean I was about to chuck my education out of the window. I had plans. A quiet life I wanted to build for myself. And I refused to let some literal hell-bent Demon bullshit that I knew nothing about until a week ago ruin said plans.
I followed Derik and Josh into the house, mulling over potential scheduling conflicts.
Maybe if I get up earlier, I can get school work out of the way? Then the “saving the world” gig after class? I only have a handful of classes now, so that shouldn’t be a problem.
Okay. I’ll do that.
I don’t have a choice but to make this work. No matter how much I don’t want to be a part of it all.
I’m going to need to stock up on coffee if I’m going to make it through all of this.
“Woah there, girl. What’s got you so worked up?” Seth slapped his hand on my shoulder, startling me.
I squeezed my lids close before responding, my mind in overdrive. “Derik was reminiscing on when we met and reminded me about finals coming up and all the school work, studying, and cramming I need to do. And how I’m going to work it all around this,” I half groaned. “But I think I have an idea of how I’m going to keep it together.”
A look of pure panic spread across Seth’s face as his body tensed and eyes bugged out from his skull. “Dude, that didn’t even cross my mind. Fucking finals, man,” he ran his hand through his hair, dust that seeped its way into his shaggy strands perfused the air between us. He coughed. “You wanna take mine for me? I might actually pass for once. I don’t want to sit through another year of the same classes.”
“What, don’t you want to bump it up to graduating college three years late instead of the two you’re up to now?” That earned me a glare from him that had me laughing.
“Maybe I failed on purpose.”
Yeah right.
Seth was smart, actually one of the brightest people I knew. Okay, that didn’t say much, with how small my social circle was, but still. The guy’s always been a bit of a genius. School just wasn’t his thing. Never has been. But with a monumental passion for reading, he’d acquired a whole library’s worth of books in his home, displayed throughout the living room. It's one of the many things we have in common. If I could live in the various realms found within the pages of my favorite stories, I would. And so would Seth.
Derik used the lull between Seth and me to jump into our conversation. “I think you might’ve, Lover Boy.” I swore, some of the most devious looks appeared on Derik’s face. Libby seemed equally as giddy, her eyes bright.
“Wasn’t there another reason you retook your classes this year?” He placed his pointer finger on his chin, tapping it. “It involved someone…” Seth’s face turned a deep shade of red. “Erin? Don’t you guys share a few?” Derik turned to face me. I nodded, not seeing what his point was. “Ah, yes. You wanted to land the same courses as Snow.”
Derik officially lost it. Seth was devastated when he realized he failed most of his classes last year.
I furrowed my brow, questioningly glancing at Seth. “I…I figured if I was repeating, I might as well snag the same classes as her. I don’t see what your point is, Derik. I don’t do school, man. We all know this,” he chattered, avoiding my gaze. Behind Seth, Libby shielded her mouth, fighting to hide her laugh. I felt my cheeks begin to flush.
Okay , but why is he stuttering and being awkward about it?
What does that mean!? There’s no way.
Does Seth…is there more to it? Does he have a thing for me?
My heart leaped in my chest.
Libby regained control, clearing her throat. “Alright, lay off the poor guy, Derik. You know how he likes to play protector.” Libby winked at me, and my heart fell.
Protector. That’s right.
It’s literally a part of who he is.
It wouldn’t mean anything more than him wanting to make sure I’m okay, especially with the Nephilim and Demons. I internally kicked myself for even entertaining the idea of Seth caring for me as more than a friend. And for caring in the first place.
Stupid.
I let out a small laugh. “Yeah, always the big brother type, huh, Seth?” For a moment, I swore there was a glimpse of sadness and pain in his eyes.
He smiled, but it barely met his eyes. “Yeah, that’s me.”
I reached my hand out and my fingers brushed his toned, sun-kissed forearm. There was a jolt of electricity between us. Seth’s breath hitched. His cerulean eyes skirted my pale skin, stopping where my hand rested on his arm. I felt the blush return to my cheeks and pulled away.
“I…sorry, Seth, I didn’t mean to…”
Except that felt like more than just static.
When my hand touched Seth, it was like a jolt of electricity shot through me, right down to my bones. Goosebumps pebbled along my arms, my heart pounded, and a warmth spread throughout my body.
He slowly nodded. “No worries, Snow.” He was still looking down; his gaze had followed my hand as I tucked it behind me. His brows threaded together and he reached around me to pull my hand back out. He held it up.
What…what is he doing?
I gasped and my eyes grew wide. There, bouncing along the tips of my fingers, were bouts of electricity, miniature lightning bolts. The flesh on the tips of my fingers tingled and a low hum echoed in my ears. Copper infiltrated my mouth as if I’d shoved a handful of pennies onto my tongue. My pulse slowed, my vision became blurry, and blood rushed from my head. Seth disappeared from view, my limbs heavy as I fell into a pit of nothingness, the world around me shrouded in black.